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' NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EoswELL 1 HITCHUOGK, JR, AND eEoEeE' H. READ, oEwAsHnveroN, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

'SAILO RS DlTTY-BOX SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 225,377, dated March 9, 1880.

' Application filed November 12, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROSWELL D. HITCH- GQGK, J 1'., and GEORGE H. READ, of Washington, in the county of Washington and District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boxes; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification. 7

Our invention relates to certain improvements in that class of boxes known as sailors ditty-boxes. and strong means of securing the lid or cover in such manner that, while the same may be readily removed, the box, when closed, shall have no projecting hinges or other devices,

and it shall be capable 'of being packed in a space equal to its outside dimensions; and our invention consists of a box of such shape as to be closely packed, having its lid secured in place by a concealed lock and lugs, as hereinafter described, so that there shall be no projections to interfere with the close packing of a number of boxes.

In order that others may make and use our improved box, we will proceed to describe the same, referring by letters to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of a box embodying the features of our invention. Fig. 2 is afront view of that portion of the box and cover where the lock is located. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the metallic keepers under which the lugs hereinafter referred to lie; and Fig. 4: is a partial vertical section through one end, to show more clearly the means by which the rear or ordinarily-hinged portion of the lid is secured.

Similar letters indicate like parts in the several figures.

A represents the body of the box, which, for convenience of storing on board ship, is of cubical form, and B is the top. The interior of the boxAis' subdivided by partitions a into compartments of suitable shape and size to suit the wants of the sailor, and the cover 13 is provided with a flat writing-board, G, which is fastened in position by buttons b, and forms It has for its object a safe a suitable space between said board 0 and the top to contain and preserve writing materials.

In order to dispense with hinges, which constantly become broken, and to permit of the speedy removal of the lid in order that it may be used as a lap writing-desk, we provide right-angled lugs c, which are secured to the under edges of the end portions of the lid and near the rear thereof, as clearly shown at Fig. l, and in the top edges of the end portions of .the box proper we secure metallic keepers D,

constructed as clearly shown at Fig. 3. The top plate of these keepers is furnished with a screw-hole, d, at the rear end, and the lower front portion of the keeper, which is closed at the bottom only, is furnished with a screwhole, a, and the keeper is secured in place within a suitable mortise in the edge of the end of the box by screws. The mortises,oneof which is represented at f, Fig. 4, are gradually inclined, as clearly shown, so as to receive and direct the lugs c to their proper place underneath the keepers D.

The lid at its front is provided with rightangled lip or book E and bolt-slot g, and a lock, F, is secured in proper relation thereto on the front of the box A. The lock is formed with a vertical front plate, which has a central opening to permit the entrance therein of the hook E, and the said front plate is beveled each side of said opening, as clearly shown at Figs. 1 and 2, the object of such construction being to automatically draw the lid or cover into proper relation to the box before looking the same. The lip or hook E, by reason of its location underneath the top plate .of the lock F, holds the lid against upward movement, and the bolt of the look, when shot into the slot 9, prevents horizontal movement of the lid. The lugs 0, being securely housed underneath the keepers D, prevent any movement upward of the rear portion of the lid.

The top of the box may be furnished with an ordinary countersunk hinged handle.

It will be observed from the construction described that the cover may be removed by unlocking the same and sliding it forward to release the lugs c, and when so released it may be picked up and turned on its rear edge,

as shown at Fig. l, to afford access to the interior of the box, or it may be inverted upon the lap and serve as a convenient Writing-desk.

There is no possibility of the box becoming insecure by the breaking or loosening of hinges, and its smooth and regular: exterior renders it useful as a seatand convenient for packing or stowing away in quarters on shipboard.

What We claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A sailors ditty-box having its lid or cover provided With a locking-lip on the front portion and lugs 0 near the rear of its ends, and its body provided with keepers D, constructed and arranged as described, and a lock, F, with its front plate beveled, substan- 

